Services & Rates
Five journalism service lines with transparent, fixed rates. All prices in Canadian dollars. HST (13%) applies to all services as indicated below.
How our pricing works
Flatoutserver publishes all rates openly because transparency is the foundation of any good client relationship. The prices below are our fixed schedule for standard work. Rush projects, custom formats or mandates with unusual complexity are quoted individually, but always starting from the base rates on this page.
Every mandate, regardless of size, includes three revision rounds at no additional charge. A 40% deposit is required to begin work. B2B clients receive net-30 payment terms on the balance. Cancellation is free up to 72 hours before the scheduled start of work. All projects are archived for 24 months from delivery.
HST (Harmonized Sales Tax, 13%) applies to all services. Our HST registration number is 732918456 RT0001. Both the excl. HST and incl. HST amounts appear in the table below for clarity.
Complete rate schedule
| Service | Package / Format | Excl. HST (CAD) | Incl. HST 13% (CAD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 — Investigative Reporting | Standard report | $2,400 | $2,712 |
| In-depth investigation | $4,800 | $5,424 | |
| Multi-part series | $12,000 | $13,560 | |
| Rush (72 h, standard) | $3,600 | $4,068 | |
| 02 — Data Journalism | Dataset analysis | $1,800 | $2,034 |
| Interactive visualization | $2,400 | $2,712 | |
| 03 — Multimedia Content | Short video (2-3 min) | $1,400 | $1,582 |
| Podcast (30-45 min) | $850 | $960.50 | |
| 04 — Analysis & Commentary | Single analysis article | $650 | $734.50 |
| Series of 4 articles | $2,200 | $2,486 | |
| 05 — Media Consulting | Per hour | $225 | $254.25 |
| Half-day (4 h) | $800 | $904 | |
| Full day (8 h) | $1,400 | $1,582 |
All prices in Canadian dollars. HST Registration: 732918456 RT0001. For mandates not listed, please request a custom quote.
Service details
Each service page describes the deliverables, typical timeline and methodology in full.
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Investigative Reporting
In-depth reporting with full source verification, access-to-information filings and editorial fact-checking. Suitable for corporate accountability, public policy, environmental compliance and social justice mandates. Rush delivery available at a fixed surcharge. All packages include three revision rounds and a source documentation file.
From $2,400 excl. HST ($2,712 incl. HST)
Full details -
Data Journalism
Statistical analysis of public or client-supplied datasets, production of interactive charts, maps and data-driven narratives for web publication. We work with government open data, financial filings, census data and custom feeds. All visualizations are accessible and mobile-responsive.
From $1,800 excl. HST ($2,034 incl. HST)
Full details -
Multimedia Content
Video reports (2-3 minutes), journalistic podcasts (30-45 minutes) and audio-visual packages for digital platforms. Filming, editing and audio production are fully in-house. All deliverables include closed captions and an accessible text transcript.
From $850 excl. HST ($960.50 incl. HST)
Full details -
Analysis & Commentary
Standalone analysis articles or thematic series that place events in context, break down complex policy debates and offer an evidence-based editorial perspective. Suitable for media outlets, think tanks, NGOs and corporate communications requiring credible independent commentary.
From $650 excl. HST ($734.50 incl. HST)
Full details -
Media Consulting
Hourly or day-rate advisory for newsrooms and communications teams. Topics covered include editorial workflow, fact-checking protocols, source management, journalism ethics, audience trust strategies and data literacy training. Available on-site in Ottawa or remotely.
From $225 excl. HST / hr ($254.25 incl. HST)
Full details
Process overview
Every mandate follows the same structured editorial process, regardless of service type or budget level.
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Initial contact
Submit your brief by email or phone. We assess feasibility and respond within one business day. No commitment or payment required at this stage.
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Scoping & agreement
We define the scope, timeline, format and price together. A service agreement is signed and the 40% deposit is paid to confirm the mandate and reserve the team.
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Research & production
Our journalists research, verify and produce the deliverable. You receive progress updates at key milestones. Three revision rounds are included for all mandates.
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Delivery & archive
Final files delivered in agreed formats with source documentation. Archive access for 24 months. B2B balance on net-30 terms from delivery date.
Request a quote
Ready to commission a project? Contact us and we will confirm a detailed proposal within one business day.
40% deposit · Free cancellation within 72 h · B2B net-30 · 3 revisions included